Purposed

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."  Daniel 1:8

Daniel purposed in his heart...

I've been thinking a lot about this verse lately.  Our church just finished a week-long Family Camp, and we all heard Spirit-filled preaching to help improve our relationships with our spouses, our children, and with our friends.  It's easy to make decisions based on what you have heard right after the church service, and it's easy to fulfill those decisions you've made for a week or two at least, but as the weeks turn into months, the decisions that we have made during special meetings, or after the weekly church services begin to wane and fall on the wayside, and we find ourselves right back where we started from.  Why is that?

Laziness.

It takes hard work and effort to change. 

Daniel made a decision.  His decision was based on a conviction, not on a standard.  Standards change; convictions will not change.  

He determined himself not to eat the king's meat.  This was a decision he had to make every single day. His determination was kept for an intended purpose: To please God.

Jesus did the same thing.  Every single day, Jesus purposed in His heart to please His heavenly Father.  To continually go about His Father's business.  Jesus set His face to go where He needed to go, to meet the person or person's He knew would be waiting for Him there.  To do what God the Father asked Him to do.  

Jesus never did anything half-heartedly or without reason or purpose.

So, how can we glorify God, whether in the time of ease or in the time of trial like Daniel?  According to Guzik, the heart must be set.  Daniel made up his mind beforehand that he would not compromise. It's to know in our hearts that "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Lord, help me to purpose in my heart to do...

     only those things that will please you...

        But that's just me!